Fit WIC MISSOURI

Local WIC Providers

Fit WIC is a nationwide program to prevent childhood overweight in young children ages 2-5 in the WIC community. Fit WIC projects were originally piloted by 5 state agencies: California, Kentucky, Vermont, Virginia, and the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, in 1999 with funding from USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service.  Since that time, Fit WIC has become a part of WIC activities locally and at the state level all across the nation. 

Four Missouri Local WIC Providers piloted Fit WIC Missouri from March-June 2006.  Pilot agencies included Holt, Macon, and Madison Counties, with Washington County piloting as the control agency. All Local WIC Providers in Missouri are now invited to take part in the Fit WIC Missouri Program to prevent overweight in children.

Highlights from Fit WIC Missouri Pilots:
Madison County- Developed a highway billboard promoting participation in physical activity, a key component of the Fit WIC Missouri program.

Macon County- Offered a “Treasure Box” filled with water bottles, jump ropes, & toddler push toys to encourage nutritious food choices, another key component of the Fit WIC Missouri program.

Holt County- Agency staff purchased water bottles to participate in the water challenge, role modeling healthy behaviors.

Washington County- Worked with participants in reducing the amount of time spent watching TV.

Fit WIC Missouri FY07 has adopted parts of the national model with two primary goals:

• To decrease the percent of children, 2-5 years old, who are overweight (BMI-for-age >95th percentile) from 14.2% (2004 PedNSS) to <10% by 2010 in children participating in Missouri WIC.
• To decrease the percent of children, 2-5 years old, who are at risk for overweight (BMI-for-age >85th percentile to <95th percentile) from 16.6% (2004 PedNSS) to <10% by 2010 in children participating in Missouri WIC.

Fit WIC Missouri Resources:         

• Fit WIC Missouri FFY07 Framework for Developing Local Initiatives and Reporting Progress to the State
• A list of recommended activities for using in Missouri from Food and Fun for Families.
• Lesson Plans developed by Missouri pilot agencies

Introduction to Fit WIC (available soon)
Healthy Food Choices for the Family (available soon)
Power Your Body (available soon)
Moving on to a Fit Family (available soon)
Families in Action (available soon)
Fruits and Vegetables (available soon)
Water (available soon)

• The Fit WIC Missouri logo for promotional use

• Institute Of Medicine Preventing Childhood Obesity: Health In The Balance
• Preventing Obesity and Other Chronic Diseases: Missouri’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Plan

National Fit WIC Resources:
WIC Works Sharing Center

• Food and Fun for Families 2005 mini-CD and online gallery of educational materials

• Project Background and Implementation Manual
• Publications based on Fit WIC Study
• Fit WIC: Programs to Prevent Childhood Overweight in Your Community (final summary report)
• Fit WIC: Programs to Prevent Childhood Overweight in Your Community (entire final report)